Definition
Indirect access (IA) is a method of obtaining aeronautical information or services through an intermediary system, provider, or channel rather than connecting directly to the originating source. In FAA usage, it typically refers to receiving data such as weather, NOTAMs, or flight planning information via a third-party service that retrieves and relays the official source data.
Plain English
It means getting the information through a middleman service instead of straight from the original source.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA acronym lists, NOTAM-related material, and descriptions of how aviation information is retrieved or delivered.
Derivation
From Latin 'indirectus' meaning 'not straight' and 'accessus' meaning 'approach.' Together they describe reaching something by a roundabout route — through someone or something else — rather than going straight to it.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots using indirect access (such as a third-party flight planning app) should understand that the data passes through another system before reaching them, which can affect timeliness and completeness compared to going straight to the official source.
Intuition Check
Do not read indirect access as physical access to an aircraft, airport, or runway. Here it means access to information through another system instead of directly from the original source.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot used indirect access through a commercial flight planning app to retrieve the latest NOTAMs before departure.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot used indirect access via the service road to reach the maintenance hangar.